Why is TCM suddenly not showing certain movies??

Question

Very recently, TCM advertised the airing of The African Queen. When the airing day arrived, something else was shown instead. Then just last week, The Barefoot Contessa was scheduled, and even advertised right up to the same day..then another movie was shown in its place. I understand that stations have the right to change scheduled broadcasts without notice, but I do find it mysterious that in both instances both movies that did NOT air were those of Humphrey Bogart. Does anyone know what's going on?..AND why is it so hard to get copies of The African Queen on DVD????????????
I love TCM but since this has happened, I'm starting to wonder if it truly is a quality station or not.

Answer 1

Having copies of both of those movies I can see how this might upset you. They are good movies. Perhaps it is just coincidence, or perhaps, they are trying to build a demand for those movies since they sell those movies from their stores. I am not willing to speculate but I will say that those are movies that demand primetime playing. Perhaps they were not scheduled when it would be cost effective to air them. After all they have to pay royalties for those films.

Answer 2

...this has seemed to have happened much more frequently, of late, with no explanation offered; even in the movie schedule e-mails, which I get from them; in these capsule messages, they don't offer a reason for these haphazardly random single-movie schedule changes.

I DO know that whenever a noteable movie star passes away, TCM WILL postpone, or outright cancel a block of movies for a day, to recognized the loss of the star.

In addition, I've noticed that if they schedule a movie, or movies which prove to be adversely contraversial, they will pull them, as well (a while back, they scheduled a marathon presentation of several of the classic "Charlie Chan" mysteries, but cancelled them, because they apparently got reports and nasty notes/e-mails, regarding the supposedly adverse stereotyped representation of the Chinese, including the fact that both Sidney Toler and Warner Oland, both Caucasian actors, were playing the 'Chan' role!!....Come On, People!!! Those films were fun and intriguing to watch, and we have become waaaaay too polically correct!!!)

...climbing down from my soapbox, and getting back to your question, perhaps you might try contacting TCM directly, to find out what's up with the schedule changes you're talking about; are you receiving their periodic e-mail messages???

Good Luck with this!!!

Answer 3

political correctness, unfortunately